1/1 MONEY left by a lifelong Southampton resident will enable his local church to become a beacon of hope in the post-pandemic era. Retired teacher John Shepard, who died aged 94 in 2018, lived in Bitterne all his life and began attending Holy Saviour Church in his youth. Now a legacy left by Mr Shepard is helping to fund an extension to the church room. The size of his donation has not been disclosed. Church members are hoping the extra space will enable people to come together and support each other following the isolation and loneliness caused by the pandemic. The extension will provide the community with much-needed space that groups in the area can hire. It will also enable the provision of a cafe, debt centre and food bank.